dnf-- [The honorable gentleman, from physical
debility, had been compelled to be seated while
he spoke.] 1 will DO* ask for a conMuoar.ee to
*ny other day, because 1 know that the time of
Ihe Senate is ptecious. I can only say in rela
'iuti to this whole project, that it will rcagi ate
*he country with the slavery question; that it is
1 think, contrary to the spirit of cur institutions
to put money in the President's pocket. I sup
poso to be sent to Madrid, for Mr. Preston to
use in an emergency. 1 think it would be im- j
proper, unjust, and ungenerous to our succes
sors, who are to ratify the treaty, to take this
advantage of them. I think it is an unfair way
tif negotiation. 1 tbiuk it would injure Louisi
ana above all the States in the Uuiou. 1 think
that at this tiuio we ought to compact nr.d hind
together and build up and strengthen what vre
have. We ate young let the gristle grow into
'he bone; let us get our tnustles developed.—
Let us feel strong before we enter info such a
contest; let us cultivate the arts of peace, for
"peace hath i's victories, no less reDowued than
war." That would be my policy, nod 1 hope
it will be the policy enforced upon the Presi
dcui, by Congress. I u:u going to look for
some sensible man ft-r the nut Presidency—a
sound tuan, I would rather he had no platform;
Ido not want to run him in blinds. 1 confess
to you thit, in my opiuion, tny co!lea~ue (Mr.
Crittenden) would, of all men ou the face of
the earth, ruit me the best. If jou will give
him a chance, I will ri.-k him upon my personal
confidence, without laying down a creed of
faith for Liiu to stand by; Ido not want to
stand a man np*n a platform, or run bint in
blinds.
Best J.s, the pitiforiT.s are all nonsense.— j
l*et me say to tny friend, tbe Senator from New
York, if he should ever get to ba President, I !
want him to recollect that this platform busi
ness is ali humbug, and when ho gets in power,
to kick down the ladder Ly which he got there.
.The two or three last platform Pros; Jen's we
have had, when ibcy got iu the car of State
and safely seated, all around, everywhere, you
could see, "Jo uot stand oo the platform when
the ears are in motion." [Laughter.] That
is the way they manage it. There is always
•otne emergency, or something to justify a de
parture from it. Well, sir, 1 hope 1 shall be
forgiven. I have leen to four or live conven
tions myself, on account of Mr. Clay, ehieflv,
and once, I believe, en account of my colleague,
t'i keep kfn out of a scrape of some sort, and 1
know a good deal about them, h the time !
war, in politics, an 1 we dominant, I al
*wva knew a hjUJ liinq before the convention
came on who would be Governor. It used to
be said that you never could koow who was
"Governor uutil the vleotiou was over; but it
•v.is all lised up—ali done in advance. I wish j
i he country to get on prosperously, and peace
fully an l gloriously, without any 'slavery agi
tation. I want a man of sound heart and sound
hc.d, who will administer the government with
(bat view. I can say for myself, as was said
by tbe immortal Webster, that i trust it will
be ouc and undivisible, now and forever; and
•hat the Gou who ovoirules us and guides us
now, as heretofore, and as 1 hope for ages to
co*, will o slnpe oar ends that all will ro
suit in good.
BEIIFORFTN Q tJIKERr
32DF0PJL
JPrlday Hurnfng. .March 4 1559- ;
9-.OVER-Gditor and Proprietor.
OUR TAXES
The Gazette of last week has a long and li
boreo article, attempting to fasten on the op
positiou the causo of 'he present indeb'edness
of tbe County. It. won't do. The people
know too well what party has had the almost
uninterrupted possession of Bedford County
for tbe last ten or fifteen years. That paper
i tlempts to show that a! the time some of tbe
money was borrowed, tie opposition hid the
board of Commissioners. It i< well known that
it was very rare that we bad tbe board one
year. lbs debts vrvro contracted, aud tbe
money caused to be borrowed by the preceding
boards of Locofoco Commissioners. That pa
per takes great credit cn account of the debt
beiug reduced in 1856. In the first part of
the year we bad tbe boerJj *nd tbe redaction
was caused by the American board, hefoio the
resignation of Mr. Long. That paper says
that '-in two years, (1857 and 1858,) Me Dem
ocratic commissioner % reduced the funded debt
of the county nearly §2,000!" In the next
sentence the G'zette says that "in the early
part of 1858, the commissioners tare compelled
to borrow §SOOO/ ' This is rich! reducing tue
Junded debt nearly §2OCO, and then increasing
it in the same tuns §SOOO/ making it over §3OOO
more than it was before reducing if. nearly
§2ooo' This is Locofoco logic! The Gazette
rheuki have a leather medal awarded it af the
n-xt meeting of the ''-.oirugeo society" for its
reasoning—it unkea U out as clear mud that
by running I. deb' §SOOO and paying off near
ly §2OOO its party is paying off the County
debt which Loeofcwoistu bar created. That pa
per rays that the expenses of tbe county are
wot so great now c* they havo heretofore been,
not withstanding the repairs of the County build
ings cost several hundred* e r ery year, the
"miseelLnccttt'' many hundreds, &c., yet
THE L"ecfoeo Couinmsioaers HAY* INCREASED <
iJtiE TVSCR FO* TBK NEXT YEAR NEARLY '
OOL'RLK, AND IN HOME CA-ES WK BELIEVE
MURK YUAN DOUBLE. 1 If the County exptu-
M'f are nut so great as formerly, why increase
tbe taxes for the next yoar double the amount
? other-years* That's the question, M
L lOoCoCiH.
Ihc IVavy Yard Corruption.
We publish tc-day from the JV. Y. Tribune,
a lengthy article on the recent Rejmrt of a com
mittee iu Congress iu relation to the gross frauds
of tbe Loccfoeo party, at the Philadelphia and
New York Navy Yards. It will be seen that
Mr. Buchanan aud J. GLmcy Jones, are aeri- i
ously implicated. At New York, on the first
of May last, about 1300 meu were employed.
Iu November there were 2400. At Philadel
phia, on the Ist of May last, about 1100 men
were employed. On the 16ib of October, there
| were over 1700. In both ccses, these aggre
gates were reduced after the elections to the or
dinary standard, thu-> proving conclusively why
tbe numbers wero temporarily doubled. There
is no su'-h ratio of increase at any of the other
yards.
The Democratic organs wilt have plenty of
work to do, after this report is xeposed It brings
to light many of tbe frauds practiced. We
shall next wet k putli-h several extracts from
tbo Report of Messrs. Sherman and Ritchie.
Our youngfriend from Woodberry, who pub
lishes a long communication of over two mor
tal columns iu the BLir County Wli'g. ovar
tbe signature of "Fair Pky," Lad letter k; rp
cool, as it is a long tio (V nl j j aV(t _
aud it Will be longer yet until ho gets Middle
Woodberry attached to Blair. Ilis communi
cation might have Icm condensed within a
, squatc, and if he had had reference to facts,
two or three lines would have amply sufficed,
and then there would have been less rocut for
so many blunders, truthful, grammatical, typo
graphical, 4. We repeat, keep cool, r, is no
use making yourself so unnecessarily warm so
long before the hot weather.
RELIGIOUS REVIVAL.— A great revival of
religion is in progress in the Lutheran Church
in this place. For the past ten days the Church
has been crowded, md the benches around tbe
altar are throtigel nightly by many anxious and
I pen.UcOt mourners, and the spirit appears to he
[ still on the increase. Many have professed con
version. Rev. Sam'! Yingiiug of that Church
has sustained all tbo arduous labors of tbe oc
casion, until the last night or two, when the as
sistance of Itev. F. Benedict, of Somerset for
' mer pastor of that Church, and Ilcv. Mr. S-.i
--fert of Woodberry, were secured.
LOCOFOCO-LIKE. —The present Locofoco
House of Representatives, uavo, iu their ex
treme anxiety, to reduce the expenditures of
the government, passed an Act, that no future ;
Congress shall be entitled to mileage! This is j
good so far as it goes. But why did the ptev
ent Congress, a large majority of whose tr.etu- ;
hers are Locofoeos, pass an ..let to repeal the
mileage of memb-rs, of future Congresses but con
tinue it for themselves? This is Loovfccoism i
with a vengeance. We would like to hear the
opinion of the Gazette on tbo subject.
We have received a communication from a
friend in one of the South eastern Townships,i
informing us of the conversion of oue of the
delegates of the late Locofoco meeting. The
people won't belong to a party that is guilty of
such frauds as those of Kansas, and of such as
have been proved en Mr. Buchanan aud his Sec
retaries.
We notice that a bill has been introduced
inio the Legislature for the purpose of selling
the Poor House property, and purchasing
another. Mr. Sehell, of the Senate, and Wil
liams and Walker, of the House, have offered
a Dumber of remonstrances against the dis
memberment of oar County.
We intend to commence in our next, a story
headed "The Guntnaker of Moscow," the con
tinuation of which will be found in the New
York Ledger of thl 19:b March, inst. Un
less our readers will get the Ledger of that
date, it will be of no account to them.
PETERSONS' COUNTERFEIT DETECTOR for
Mireb has come to hand. It contains a list of
seventy new counterfeits since the last issue.—
It is the best Detector puhlisbed in the couo
try.
•
BEDFORD FOUNDRY. — We call the tte&-
tcntion of our readers to thu advertisement of
Messrs. Shires & Jordan. Persons in wan: of
anything iu tbe foundry business, will do well
to call on them
Attention is called to the advertisement of
Juhn Alsip, K-q., iu to-day's paper. The
Sheriff has a good assortment of goods, and
sells them eheap.
Our friend, S. S. WHARTON, ESQ., of Hunt
ingdon, will be a candidate for Auditor Gene
ral, before the next People's Convention. He
would make a good officer.
OCR MUSICAL FRIEND. —We call atteution
to the advertisement in another column, of this
popular musical work.
Our advertising columns are rioh this week
in land vales, &o. Seo ihctn.
The Post Office has been removed this week
to the tore of Messrs. Fergusou & Co.
Foi the inquirer.
OUR COMMON SCHOOLS—NO 1.
Mr. EDITOR:- I am now neatly through vis
iting the schools for the present term. I de
sire to say a few things in regard to theui. If
you give tue a little room in your paper, 1 will
; furnish u few short articles on ths subject.
BEDFORD IMDUIRSR.
Pet baps ihey will bo interesting to many of
your reader*.
1 do not wish to trouble you or atiy person
else, will an extended detail of statistics, and
therefore would merely remark that there are
oue hundred and seventy-nine schools in ihe
couuty at this tiiuc. Two hundred and iweu
ty-eight applicants were txaiuiued during the
term. Two hundred and eight certificates were
issued, uiauy of which were of the lower grades.
Some of these were employed from necessity
and uot fiorn choice. Iu some districts better
teachers could not be obtained for tho wages
offered, and in others, better ones could rot bu
tiad at all. The staudard of the teachers'
qualifications was raised a little higher than it
was last year, requiring a little more to gat as
good certificate. The schools throughout the
county, wherever I was able to visit them,
have been doing better this term than the last,
with only two or three exceptions. The signs
of general improvement ate begiuuing to be
seen in mcny piaees. Teaehers' institutes are
regularly Leld in most of the districts, for pur
poses of mutual improvement; a disposition to '
build better school hcuse, and employ better
teachers, is showing itself, and in many places
there is a more geueral waking up to the claims
aud responsibilities cf the subj-ci.
One of ihe true principles of political econo
my is, that every State should educate its own
Cuiidreo, or at Last Svc tint they are educe
tod. This is nothing uiore than carryiug out
the pricciplo that calls for every goverumcut to
establish laws fcr the protection cl life and
property, and the punishment of crime. It is j
not difficult to see that u good ecbooLlwue?; j
well occupied, is worth much mote than any '
jail or any code of penal laws, as a preventive !
of vtce und wickedness. The legislation of
our State has hitherto acknowledged this prin
ciple, aud has acted upon it, especially so dur
iug the last twenty five years, llcaee educa
tional means, fully able to accomplish tho pur
poses for which they are designed, have been
liberally provided. The qjcstiju then forces
itself upon the uiind: Are the common schools
of our county, us they are now organized, ac
complishing the purposes of their iiistitutiool
that is, do they give thorough elementary in
struction and proper moral training to the
children of the people? I ani sorry to say that
tLit question canuot be answered fully and sat
isfactorily in the affirmative. It is true that
much, very much has been accomplished al
ready, aQd the stand* d of the schools is high
er now than at any time in their previous his
tory; aud, as a general thing, they were better
taught, and more thorough instruction was giv
en during the past scstiou than ever before;
and, though more interest was taken in their
succcess, Uy directors ami parents, ibaa for
merly, aud though it is acknowledged that the
interest is increasing, and the tendency is up
wards, yet all this does uot bring us up to what
we ought to he. We are so far back 1 There
is room for great improvements. Much must
be done before wo can enjoy the full benefits cf
our school system. It is said, by competent
judges, to be oDe of the best iu the world,'yet
there are many persons who object to it in
it* proflcnt form, and would obj'-ct to it la'any
other form. Those are not wanting who ob
ject even to the laws of God. It is true, there
may be some things to object to iu the present
system, but whatever these objections uiy be,
tuey bear no comparison with the hiudeianccs
to iis proper working, thrown in the w<y by
some parents, some directors and some teach
ers also. Of theso I will -peok hereafter, and
of each district in particular, as some arc de
serving of much praise.
SUPERINTENDENT.
Becfo.d, Feb. 1859.
the Nary Department Corruption.
In the general slough of corruption into
which, according to Mr. Buchanan's Duquesne
letter, the United States, including both Fed
eral and State Governments, have drifted,
uo greater or fouler depth has as yet been
explored than that which is treated iu
the report of Me-s s. Sherman and Ritch
ie, of the Naval Coriuption Investigating Com
mittee. It will, wa think, be Been fioia the
facts detailed in this Report that in making his
charges of corruption, Mr. Buelunau need not
have gone beyorrd the recollections of his own
' personal experience for ample proof of every
i th : ng that he alleged.
The attention of the Committee has been
| chiefly directed to four distinct items of ex
penditure: 1. The purchase of fuel for the Na
i vy. 2. The purchase of live oak timber. 3.
I Tho management of the navy yards, and espe
! oially that of Brooklyn. 4. Contracts for
! steam machinery.
1. The mode of purchasing the coal, the se
lection of the Coal Agent and his compensation
arc by law left entirely to tho discretion of the
Secretary of the Navy. In May last, Betija
; uiin Tyson was the Coal Agent, with a compen
| .nation fixed at Gvc per oent commission on the
i ( £otal cost uf the coal purchased, and on tho
cost of freighting the coal to the various navy
yards. The amount purchased in 1858 was
55,000 tons. There were several applicants
for the offijo held by Mr. Tyson. In May,
1858, some of these applicants met at Wash
ington, and at a conference with each other and
| their friends—among whom was Glancy Jones,
sinco appointed by Mr. Buchanno Minister to
Austria—it was agreed that Dr. Charles 11.
Hunter, of Reading, Pa., should be appointed
Coat Agent, aud that the emoluments of the
office should bo divided equally between him,
John F. Smith, and J. Lawrence Getz—warm
personal and political friends of President Bu
chanan, who had contributed largely to bis
election; Hunter and Smith wcro both appli
cants for the office of Coal Agot, and Getz is
the editor of (hit starling Democratic sheet,
the Reading Gazette.
Mr. Smith testified that he was in Washing
ton in May last, and was prefect when the ar
rangement for the appointment of Hunter was
made; that the ♦arrangeraeut' was cotnmsuica
ted to Glancy Jones, thou a member of Con
gress; aud that the President alio understood
that the emoluments of the office were to go to
the thr;e. A* this poiut was deemed impor
tant by the Committee, the witness waa tram-
In pursuance of the arrangement, Dr. Hun
ter was appointed Coal Agent. Smith teem
ed the commission from tho Navy Department,
took it to Dr. Hunter, at Reading, aud narra
ted to him the arrangement, to which Hontcr
agreed. Getz subsequently dccliued to share
in tho profits, because, as ho says, tho *ar-
I taugeiueut' was distasteful to him.
ineu sud re-examined by different members of
the Committee as to the knowledge of the Pre
sident, He repeated that ihe President knew
that the three were to divide ihe emoluments of
the office, and that the parties were satisfied
with the decision.
Mr. Getz teatiGed ihul he was at Washing
ton at the time, an l was informed cf the ar
rangements for the appointment of Dr. Hunt
er, and that he, Getz, was :o have one-third rf
the profits. He conversed with the President
about the appointment of Dr. Hunter, and the
Prcsideut said to him: "Mr. Jones urged uie to
appoint you, but you ere uo applicant; 1 Lavo
made up uiy mind to appoint Dr Ilunter."
Dr. llnntcr had been for years, was then,
and still is, a practising physician iu Reading.
He had never purchased coal for sale; he did
uot know its market value, took no pains to
asctrtain it , did not purchase any coai for ihe
Government, or do any act in the performance
of his duty, except to sign formal papers sent
to him by Tyler, Stone & Co. Philadelphia,
certifying that a specific quantity of coal cf ihe
test quality, had been duly inspected and
weighed by him ar.d shipped on bo.rd r,anted
vessel. These papers rere sent to the proper
bureau, and all parties knew, or out to have
known, that the certificates were fals**, so far
os releteS to Lis personal knowledge of the
fads certified. When the Government needed
coal a requisition was sent to l>r. Hunter,
which by him was sent to Tyler, Stone & Co.,
who became at once the purchasers for and the
sellers to the Government. Tyler, Stone &
Co. and Dr. Hunter fixed the price at §3 85
per tun. Tho testimony of utaoy witnesses
establishes, beyeuud a reasonable doult, that
the market value of such coal as was delivered
to the Government would not exceed $3 50 per ;
iun, and several respcclr.ble dealers would hare
furnished the Government at that or a less
price, and then made a profit. Ihe amount cf
emoluments received by Dr. Hunter nnd di
vided by him with Mr. Smith was at the rate of
about §15,000 per annum.
11. Live-oak tinder, like ether in-Aerial for
the Navy, is required by law to no purchased
by contract with ihe lowest bidder ; but, un
like other material, it is not kept on h.vnd in
large quantities by dealers in timber. I: has,
therefore, been the uniform custom of the
Government to allow contractors from one to
two years to furnish the supply needed, unless
the exigencies of the service demand tu im
mediate supply, in which case it may be bought
in open purchase.
Mr. W. O. N. Swift, a whaler cf New-Bed
ford, Mass., had, piior to 1844, been contrac
tor for the supply of iive-onk and other tim
ber for the Government. In 1854, Le entered
into a written agreement with Gorge Plitt of
Philadelphia, au intimate friend of President
Buebanan. by which Plitt agreed Jo aid Swift
all he could in obtaining lire-oak contracts
with tho Navy Department; for which Swift
was to pay to Piitt ten per cent oa the gioss
amount of the contracts made. Pending tLe
Presidential election of 1856 Piitt introduced
Swift ;o Mr. Buchanan. Piitt himself, at the
time, was Treasurer of the Democratic State
Committee of Pennsylvania, aud, as such, re
ceived from Swift the euni of $16,000, to he
used in the pending election. Mr. Buchanan
was informed, before the election, that Mr.
Swift was an Old Lioe Whig who lad come
over to his party, and was taking active part in
the election ; and he was subsequently inform
ed cf the amount contributed by Swift. Plitt
also introduced Swift to Mr. Secretary Toacey,
telling him that Le was a very warm friend,
who had contributed very liberally toward the
election of 1856, and who had a Lumber of
Old-Line Whig friends io Massachusetts who
were equally liberal, end that such gentlemen,
of course, "ought to Le patronized."
The result cf these introductions and these ;
interviews with the President and the Secretary \
of the Navy was, that in 1857 contracts for j
live-oak were awarded to Mr. Swift to tic
amount of $32,9-40. And in 1858, by a
scries of artful aud fraudulent maneuvers, which :
aro fully and clearly set forth in the report of :
the Committee, it was contrived that Mr. Swift :
should get a further contiact for 150,000 fee;'
cf timber, amounting to §166,700, aboui j
$25,000 more than it would hove cost the Gov
ernment if tho contract had been houe-tly aud
properly offered to public competition, without
the disgraceful favoritism which the testimony
proves to Lave been practised.
111. The investigation into the condition of ■
tho Brooklyn Navy Yard disclosed, in the i
Grst place, the fact that the patronage of the
Yard was systematically divided uuiong the
Democratic members of Congress from N. York.
Thus, the constructive engineer, the master
plumber, aod the master block-maker, repre
sented Mr. Sickles ; the master paioter repre
sented Mr. Searing ; the master fpar-iuaker, ;
master blacksmith, and timber inspector, Mr.
M.clay ; <bc master boat builder, and master j
ship carpenter, Mr. Taylor : the master cau'kcr,
Mr. Cochrane ; and the master stone-cutter, !
Mr. W>rd. In the general division of pt
rouage, Liwruooc Coiiuue was appointed master
carpenter upon tbc nomination of Mr. Haskio. i
He was removed on tho 9ih of Jano, 1858, on
account of Mr. Huskin'a anti-Lecomptonisin
Alexander Ward, the master laborr, repre
sented Mr. Ulurk, and in May, IBSS, after Mr.
Clark had taken his position upon the Kansas
question, Ward resigned, to avoid being tura
od out.
This system, Mr. Sherman justly remarks,
has reduced the Navy Yard to a uiero political
machine, were idleness, tbeft, insubordination,
fraud and gross neglect of duty prevailed to
an alarming degree. Members of Congress
took a scandalous interest io the appointmont
of the lowest workmen, sometimes pressing ap
pointments upon the master workmen, as a re
ward for {.artisan services, without regard to
the qualification or character of the applicaut.
For example, Mr. Jobo Cochrane, ou Juue 13,
1857, wrote thus to Mr. Cohauc, Mr. Hiskin's
master carpenter.
"Mr. Ooliano : Mr. Culleu tells me that you
arc to lake men ou Tuesday ; now I ask you
to take him on and the others I have asked y-iu
to take on. I will have my proportion of men
under you. If you do not glue them, I will
lodge charges against you." He also wroto in
similar style to the master blacksmith.
Iu another case, Lewis W. Berry, the master
painter, discharged a man for habitual drunk
enness, who had been appointed upon the rec
ommendation of Mr. John Kelly. Mi. Kelly
requested that the man be taken on again.—
Berry demurred, telling Kelly that the aim wi
a diegraoe to tbc service. Kelly said he could
not help that—the man must go io work again.
Berry stilt refused. Upon which Kelly tuld
biru. "Yon tniy set it down as a fnot that 1
' will have you removed if 1 oan." And he *as
removed two or three months afterward, Mr.
Kelly having applied fir bis removal! Mr. Kel
ly, the report stutes, testifies that Le did not
know the man was a drunkard.
It appears from the testimony that it was by
order of Mr. Secretary Toucey that the patron
age of the Navy Yard was divided among the
members of Congress. Under date ot July
30, 1858, Mr. Toucey wrote to Cora Kearney,
the Commandant of the Navy Yard, telling him
that Mr. Sickles had complained of the master
joiner because he had not employed, under him,
a single perenn from his district. And the
Secretary directs the Commodore "to inquire
into aud report upou this matter." "Vety ex
traordinary business," remarks Mr. Sherman,
"on which to iiett.il a a officer of the highest
rank known in the N vy t f the United
Stutes."
'i Le Commodore, iu reply, transmitted to the
Department a letter frcat the master joiner,
who justified himself for cot accepting the rec
ommendations of Mr. Sickles Ly saying, that
"m nine cases cut of tcu the men who are most
strenuously recommended are very indifferent
hands, many of whom cannot obtain enipb y
uient from private employers."
Abuses of the grossest nature are shewn to
exist in the other civil departments of the Navy
Y urd, especially iu those of the Navy Agent
and Naval Storekeeper. Similar abuses rxist
aiso at ine Diiilalelpbiu Navy Yard. Bir, one
of the most flagrant viola-ions of law and of
propriety rai disclosed by the inquiry into the
contracts ferine tn ohinery of the steam sl.-ps
of-w ir directed to be Luii; Ly the Act of June,
1858. Ou the 26th of July, sealed proposals
were invited Ly toe Secretary of the Navy lor
the machinery of these Vessels. litis were ac
cordingly sent iu by in< s* of the leading marine
engine-builders of the U. States. For the
largo sloop at Philadelphia ibtre were seven
Lids, tb3 lowest being trcm the Novelty Iron
Hoiks of tbi> ciiy, offering to uo the work for
SOB,OOO. Merrick & SUN of PLiledelphia of
i'ered to do it for §102,000. Before tue Seo
reUry Lad passed upon any of the bids, Col.
• o'. Patierscn of Philadelphia wrote, under
-t-.ecf Sept. 13, 1858, to Mr. BucLauen the
following lettert
PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 13, 185 S.
"DEAR SIB: 1 veniura to suggest to you the
importance of -..warn,eg the contracts for the
machinery of tie sloop, caw building at (he!
Navy lard at tins Uy.e, and, if ir can Le done !
without prejudice to the public service, to sler- '
ri-k & Suns, 't Lc-;r is '.Le only estaiiLLiaen:
in the F rit D. strict which employs a large j
BUtiberof tnecL; nice—t; this time,*39o: when
iu fell work, 450.
"The managing parterre (Mr. M, sr., being
absent ia Lai health,) are tali cf energy, strain
ing every L.rve tc keep their force dining this
depression, and, in so tar BS I knew, the only
old Whigs cf any influence in that District who
are in le\or of the re-election cf Cel. Flor
ence.
"1 know, from former experience, the value
cf that influence, r.d feel persuaded that i; is
the interest of ths Dem emtio party to increase
"ihe First District will, 1 hope, be carried
in ony event, hut with that simp at woik, fuli
hao led, two weeks prior to the election, the re
suit would I think, to placed beyond sil
doubt.
♦•'.VitL rcoeb respect,
W. C. PATTERSON.
"THE PRESIDENT."
The President sent this precious document I
to the Secretary of the Navy with the following I
indorsement:
'•rue i;icio3ed letter, from Uoi. Patterson of ;
Philadelphia, is submitted to the attention cf I
the Secretary of the Navy."
-J. S."
Mr. Sherman's Report puts this trrruaotioa j
in its true light:
"It is the duty of the Secretary to determine 3
which of the bidders was the "lowest responsi- j
Lie bidder," and to award to him the contract.
It is a judicial act. The rights of parties un
der the law, aud the rights of the Uovornmeut, '
were involved ia the award. Any suggestions :
of fact or motive, except those which would en- !
able the SecreUrry to adjudge which of the com- i
poiing bidders was ths lowest responsible one,
was improper. The Secretary was the subor
dinate of the President, holding offiie at bis
pleasure, naturally controlled by bis wili; and |
by law he is frequently required to award and j
adjudge without regard to the President—(De- j
catur agt. Paulding, 14 Pet., 515; 6 How., j
101-2.) Under these circumstances the Presi- ,
deut suggested to the Secretary, and in writing !
called bis attention to the importance of award- !
ing oue of the contracts for machinery to Mer- '
rick & Sons, in order to tecuro tho potent po- j
litical influence of that firm :u favor of the re- j
election ot Col. Florence, and thus place the
result of tho election iu his District beyond
doubi, anJ generally to iucrcvso the influence
of that firm, mat a might be exeroised in i%vox
of the Democratic pariy.
' It the President Lad suggested to a Judge
of me U. S. Courts that he render a judgment
in favor of cnc of the parties litigant in a o-.ua:;
p.tiling before him, because that judgment
would aid m the election'of a parly favorite,
or would contribute to the success of the Dem
ocratic party, the general video of the people I
would demand Lis impeachment. Is it a less !
serious offense wheu this suggestion is made by !
the Piesidunt to the Secretary of the Navy? !
Too Judge is beyond be power of the Presi
dent; the Secretary is within his power. Each
is required to perform judicial fuuctiou*. Tiie
suggestions by the President of currupt motives
to either is equally dangerous, and is uioro like
ly to succeed with au officer whoso teuure of
office is the will of tho President.
"The terms of the note of the President
could not to misunderstood by a subordinate.
No ono can read the letter aDd note without a
conviction that the inducement in the letter
was regarded by the Prcsideut as a proper ouo
to bo submitted aud to require the uift-iition cf
the Secretary. Thus indorsed, the corrupt
motive suggested would decide tbc nward with
out regard to cost, nuiess the Secretary evinced
a higher reuse ot public dutv thin tns superi
or."
it is needless io add that Merrick & Sons got
the contract; though the most extensive work
shop of the kind in tho country had offered
to do tho work for S4OOO less than MeriLck &
Buns.
Is it possible that the American people arc
so desdoned to official corruption that they can
contemplate with insensibility and indifference
revelations like these?
! TERRIBLE TRAGEDY IS WASHIGTON.
Philip Barton Key Shot Dead on Penn
sjlratiia ifinue,
BY DANIEL E. SICK ELS, MEMBER OF
CONGRESS FROM NEW YORK '
WASHINGTON, Feb. 27.— Philip B a . ton Rev
j U. 8. Attorney for the District of Columbia's
gentleman cf high social standing, and louJ a
resident of Washington, was killed to-day by
Daniel E. biskeD, member of Congress f ro i
New York.
! Many differt-ut rum- rsare circulating 'egard
: iiig the tragedy, but nil coceur in he followine
| facts: ' ®
About two o'clock ibis afternoon, the deceas
! Ed wa atandiDg on Pennsylvania Avenue, ffi
the neighborhood of Lafayette Square, and near
j the residence ot Sickles, conversing wiih Mr/
. Lu.terwcr-. j, whefi Mr. Siokcis approached uud
; exc,aimed, "D—-<i rascal, you are the destroyer
■ of my honor and happiness, and I've come" to
: kill you," ut the same time drawing a pistol
and tiring, when Key staggered forward and
fcickels stepping Luck fired a second shot which
biought him on Lis kncce. At this time Key
exclaimed, "I sin murdered," and implored
Sicktis Ui rp;sre his life; but she taller fired a.
ih:id time, which shot penetratiog tno hea't
caused dcatn iu a few ELtouicuti*.
Sicktlv iu.mediately proceeded to the rcsi
cecto of the Attorney General, which
Ly, followed by an in.meziSe crowd, ana dehv
ettd i.imse.'f into the cusiody of that gcmle
mau. Snort ly alteiwardfi he was ccnieyca to
Jail where ho row remain?, eurrcuadid by mj
u.crous Lieni-'a.
ahe cause of the orcd is said io ba lie m£..
ue:::y or StcL'vTx wiio with Key, i uc former
k^ :,i e jvet/rday beta apptistd tif ih s f . CJ
an auoiiyu.Ci.4 letter, mil prepared Liinseif ao
eoiuiDgiy. The wildest cxtirement prcveila
throughout the community, and the ceatii ot
Key it universally Lmtnied.
EECC'ND LISPATCH.
Ihe verdict of thy Coronet's Jury is as fel
lows: "That ihe death of Puiiip Baiton Key
y.us caused by a putol iu tho hinds of Daniel
E oicaic'ls.''
Ii is rtiiabiy tsseifed that oickels has a pi
per iu h:.e possession, signed by his wife, ac
knowledging Ltr guilt.
oee ac*e.lisem at <„ S.nterd's Liver luvig
rator. "
. ! - J u,: -' at t:i resideneo of the
lt er \ L ' y ile7 ' SjUi '' Mr.
THOMAI, M. LYNCH, of Bedford, to Mi a
MARGARET LLTZ. of Snskeßpr-^g
'ibe harpy eoU pj 3 h*vo cur ihapka fora snp
f lycf wedi iDgcake. Miy their career through
life he cue cf uoaiPjed ioappineas.
On the 224 ult, by J u ha Smith, Esq., Mr.
JOB Bzsglz of Bedford T r ., to Mwa SARAII
M. ui.EEK if Napier.
iiiiflfUKili FOL.YDUY.
TIIo. subscribers having pu:chased the Bedford
f euadry of Messrs tt'ashabaugh fii Bannon,
would m-.rt respect ully announce to the citi
zens of B/cforl and adjoi iag counties, that they
are prepared to make an i lurnish all kin Is cf
CAbafNGS for
:GRIST AND SAW-MILLS,
Thrashing Machines, Ploughs, Apple mills, Cook
u.g, ten plate, and coal stoves, sled and Sleigh soles,
wash keit.es, oi different sizes, wagon boxes of all
Sizes, farmers" bells, ( a superior article,) even
doors, cad every thing usually made in a country
Foundry.
Woodcock, Seyley and HILL-SIDE
Also, anew PLUG PLOUGH, to which wa call
tho esp- cia! stteniion of rur farmers—a superior
article to the oid Ping Plough, with two kinds of
points snares and landaiies to suit all ploughs in
general uso in tins county. Turning cad fitticg of
iron patterns mufc) to order, and all kinds of re
pai.ing done at t..0 choilest notice and at low
prices. All our own work made of tho very best
material, ami warranted to give satisfaction.
Farmers and others would de wed to call aud ei
amme our work before purchasing elsewhere, as
we are determined to meet the innnergeneies of the
times, we will sell LOW poa CASH, OR COUXTRT
ritODCCE. Pig and bar iron, horses and lumber,
tSiien ia exchange for work.
-~ r - h4 - 1859—1y SHIRES & JORDAN.
iBGIPdi
AND
PRODUCE STORE!
Great inducemeals to Fnrcbasers,
Tid.sl undersigned hiving purchased the
Store lately owned by Samnl Brown, deceased,
offers to mo Public a largo assortment cf Dry
Gooia, Grj-cr:", Quensicare, Boots and Shots, Uc.,
&c., &C-, i t tha lowest CASH PKICES.
i.is sock of goods is unsurpassed in every point
of excellence, and purchasers need only call and
sec to bo convinced that it is to their interest, to
buy .'.t bis establishment for CASH, or COUNTRY PRO
DUCE.
lie will make tho most sdvantsgeous sales, to
purchasers, us immediate payments will enable hha
to make
GREAT. REDUCTION IN PRICES!
Those ho wish to secure bargains should not de
uy giving bun a call.
Store Room same as lately occupied by Samuel
Brown, immediately opposite the Washington Ho
lurch 4, 1859. JOHN ALS,P
HKLKOIUI ill 11. UO HI.
A LL persons haviug BOORS Issued bv the Cbtc-
XX nussioners uppointeil to receive subscripttoaa
ol stock to the Bedford R.ilroad, with stock sub
scribed therein, are earnestly requested to return
the same immediately to the secretary td the com
pan.v, as it is desirable to isnuo now books dircctlr
from toe organized Board.
March 4, 1859. JOHN P. REED, SecHy.
Audhoi's NODCCT
THE undersigned appointed, auditor, by the Or
phans Court, of Budtoid to distribute
the funds, remaining iu tba hands of the Adminis
trator,of John Seigle. dCc'd, will attend to ths
dutiis ol aaid appointment at his oißce, in tte
Bort ugh of Bi'tUhni, on VVednesday the 20th day
of March next, ivlien and where all persons inter
ested, may attend. O. H. GAJTiIER,
Marcl; <5,1859. Auditor
ANEW Supply of Musiins, CuPcow, Giughsras,
Hrillings, Cotton, tec.,
just received a&d for sole cheap at J. ft J. K.
Shoemaker's Colouada Slose.
March 4, IS$9.
J& J. M. SUOEMARER have just received a new
• supply of Coffee, Sugar ,Syrup Mo! *e,rbh.
Brooms, Teas, Indigo, Hummel's Ewe-noa Qoffet.
Fpices, lie., which will be I ehe-up.
' Merch4.lßA3.